What We’re Learning from Our Knitting (and Luceting):

Ta Dah! Catherine finished her Garden Arbor Shawl by Kira K Designs, a kit she got from The Natural Fiber Fair in 2015. The yarn is the Sky colorway in Bamboo from Be Sweet Yarns.

Margaret made a lucet bracelet that was a modification of the pattern that Jennifer Hansen, from Stitch Diva offered as a bonus after completing her free 7-Day Lucet Challenge. https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/38006. She used Magnetic clasps. She also tested out the KonMari method http://tidyingup.com/ of organizing all her knitting, crocheting and lucet supplies.

Brainy Thing: Shinrin Yoku (Forest Breathing)

Catherine introduces us to Shinrin Yoku the Japanese codification of a worldwide ancient custom of Forest Breathing. The phenomenon of the healing from forest is getting a lot of research interest and an American study shows that walks in nature can help children with ADD and ADHD. Some resources:

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Breaking news (at least relatively from us) — Redwood trees are best at fixing oxygen– converting Carbon Dioxide into Oxygen in the process of photosynthesis therefore they can be helpful resources in battling Global Warming.

Welcome to Episode 32: Lily Chin: Teacher Extraordinaire

Brainy Thing: 13:45 Behind the Redwood Curtain 23:10

What we’re learning from our Knitting

Margaret is knitting a cowl out of Katia Temis or Colibri —she’s lost the ball band There’s no pattern: She just casts on 25 or more stitches and knits in garter stitch on very large needles (size 13) until she runs out of yarn. This is her exercise bike knitting. She also reports on how much she likes the Designing Vashti Yarn: Lotus Z-twisted sport weight fashion yarns: 52 cotton, 48 rayon. She knit up Kira K’s Belle Epoque shawl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/belle-epoque-shawl) with it and has had a chance to try it out and she loves the mix of cotton and rayon.

After many years, Catherine finished her first pair of socks. She’s knit many since this first pair that she never quite finished. She used a generic cuff down sock recipe that she got from the sock knitting class she took and used a Brown Sheep Fleece cotton and wool yarn.

Brainy Thing: Lily Chin: Teacher Extraordinaire

Margaret analyzes why she thinks Lily Chin is an excellent teacher. Margaret recently finished viewing the Crocheter’s Toolbox video and also took a class in person with Lily on knitted closures.

Behind the Redwood Curtain: ACV

The Arcata/Eureka or the Eureka/Arcata airport (which actually is in McKinleyville) according to some people is the foggiest airport in the U.S. Whether that is true or not, it has a fascinating history.

Knitting Tip: SSK

Catherine tells us about a neater, more “perfect” left leaning decrease.

Welcome to Episode 26: Gamma Brain Waves and Knitting and Crochet

Brainy Part: 18:02

Behind the Redwood Curtain: 28:53

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting and Crochet

Catherine took a class from Patti Subik, dyer extraordinaire and owner of Great Adirondack Yarn. On Ravelry here. She experienced one of those great insights that opened up her world using procion dyes.

Margaret sings the praises for Kira K Designs who is Kira Dulaney who designed the Belle Epoque crocheted shawl. Good for a new-ish crocheters, the design is extremely well laid out on the page and therefore easy to follow. Margaret used Lotus Yarn designed by crocheters Designing Vashti, Vashti Braha and Doris Chan that is half cotton, half rayon and features a Z twist.

Brainy Thing: Gamma Brain Waves

Catherine tells us about Gamma Waves which are associated with learning, memory, linguistic processes and other cognitive ability. Maybe even consciousness itself. But the research she find suggests that it also accounts for increased happiness. She makes her own hypothesis (and I love it) that if meditation increases Gamma Waves (and it does) and knitting has meditative qualities (which is does) that knitting might increase Gamma Waves too — therefore increasing happiness. We’re just waiting for some brain scientists to wire up our brains while we knit. Check out this site for an infographic on gamma brain waves.